Counter.



\ l PATENTBD MAY 26, 1908. l R. W. E c. B. VARDEMAN. A

COUNTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WA Tromyfr's UNITED STATES' ROBERT W. YARDEMAN AND CLARENCE B. VARDEMAN, OF MARSALL, MISSOURI.

.COUNT E.R.

no. 888,944. I

Specification of Letters Patenaf Patented May 26, i908.

applicati@ sied september so; i907. serial No. 395,056-

To all whom it may concern:

,Be it known-that we, ROBERT W. VARDE- HAN' and CLARENCE B. VARDEMAN, citizens of the United States, 'and residents of Mar- 'i shall, in the county of Saline and State of Missouri, havein'v'ented a'n Improvement in Counters, of which the following is a specificatioii.

.fu'r invention relates generally to that class of machines called counters or registers, and particularly tothe machines o'fthis class I that are known as cycl'orneters, such devices adapted. fr. the urpose of measuring the'iist'anoe traveled wheeled vehicles. It is also applicable to machines known as j"lxgometers, or word counters, which are apted to the purpose of counting words automatically as they may be written on the t eWI'iter, or on a type setting machine.

he invention may be also found useful for other applications as registers or counters.

O rinvention consists mainly in the means for -restoring the index rings to zero, conyeniently and quickly', and also in means for adapting it to application for the several uses described.

' 2b is an enlarged detail section' on line Figure 1 is a longitudinal section takenv through a cyclometer of the forni already known, and to which our invention is especially applicable. Fig. 1l is a face view in detail of one of the index rings of said c clometer. Fig. 1b is a section through tie same. Fig. 2 is a face view of one of our index rings,`and Fig. 2 a sectional view of the same showing our improvement. Fig. 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cyclometer equi perl with our invention, the containing case iieing removed. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details of the same. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the application of our invention to the space bar of a typewriter for use as logomcter or word counter. Fig. 8 shows a"pers ectivc view of the space bar of a typewriterlhaving our logoinetcr incorporated in the frame thereof; and Fig. 9

is a perspective view showing our logometer an y external atfrms of cyclometers to which it is applica in going forward.

ble. This we have shown in Figs. 1, 1l and 1b. This device is a cyclometei of the type shown and described in the patent to Vee er, No. 548,482, October 22, 1895.

A star wheel '1 is intermittentl moved by a taplpet projection from the w eel of the bicyce andy turns the axial shaft 2. This sliaft rotates in bearings in a stationary partition-disk 3, and carries on its end two cams disks 1'2 and 13 of different diameters. These cam disks swivel withintwo gear Wheels 4 andl 5, the gear wheel 4 being in the lane of the cam 12, and the gear wheel 5 iii t e plane of the cam 13. 4 rotates in mesh with a stationary ''set of teeth 6 lixed to the partition disk'B. The,

gear wheel 5, which is of lar er diameter,-

rotatesiin mesh with the inwar( ly projecting teeth 7 of an index ring V8. The gear wheels 4 and 5 are rigidly connected together, and by a differential efl'ect transmit from the traverse 'of the stationary teeth 6', a very slow movement toit-he teeth `7 of the index ring 8. The index ring 8 transmits by a decimal reduction-its motion to its adj aceiit indexring 8 of next higher denomination, in the usual way of carrying from a lower denomination to a higher denomination in' counting machines. The .means here einployed consist of a pair of wheels 9 and 10 rigidly conncctcdto a hub llrotating on a different axis from the index rings. The Wheel 9 is struck once and turned one notch fo'r every complete revolution of the index ring 8, by a lug l, and through its attached gear wheel 10, rotates the second index ring 8 one notch, in carrying from the lower to the hi her denomination.

In t e form of device described, it is irnpossib'le to set the registration back to zero without the sameslow process that was used The gear wheel Our invention provides a device to set the cyclometer back tozero--' instantly, from any registration,- by thesii'n# ple turningof a handle knob.

By referring to Fig. l", it will be seen that each of the index rings 8a is provided with' inwardly projecting teeth which are engaged by their actuating gears 10, and as' these teeth are made integral with said index ring, and are constantly in mesh with the actuating pinions 10, Fig.- l, it is impossible to dis- .associate or dissolve the relation between the ac'tuating gears and the index rings, and in ing movement of said 2li-.this about the interior of the index r order to set these index to zero, it is necessary to' operate thel actuating gears as we i In Figs. 2, 2 and 2b We have shown .the

I R in one direction,

independently movable of gear teeth H, Fig. 2, reely within the index ring and in the other direction for normal counting moves rigidly with In 'bringing and actuates said index ring.

I Reece-Fig. 2"-is formed .with a snili series of -inwardly projecting ratchet teeth .i t, and the'loose toothed ring l t is provided on its outei; periphery with a thin and ilexible spring pawl s p. "-Vf'hen the loose ring l t is being turned by its actuating gears in the direction of the arrow its spring pawl s-p l also enga es the teeth 'L t' of the index ring 'pro essive counting.

I R, and also actuates said index ring I R in the direction of the arrow y for normal and the lndex ring to zero again, it is only necessary to continue the rotation of the same in the direction of the arrow y, and-the spring connected ac'tu ati 'such positionI t pawl s in such ease allows the index ring- R to eely1 turn independently of the connection o'-t e toothed ring l twith its rigidly I gears. There ,is formed on one sideof eac index ring ashoulder ada ted to fit in the adjacent index ring su cient to hold the loose toothed ring l t osition, as seen in Flg. 2.

e will'now describe the means whereby the operator is enabled to freely and easily moveV the perilhery of each. index ring to at the reading will be zero, reference be' had to Fi 3 of the drawing. The peri hera face of eac index ring will be made suilieiently wide to ermit the lacing of the figures-on the outsi e, and also eave a .small space on the side for' cog teeth which Vextend around lthe periphery of each index ring, except at one point, where there will be no co but will be a vblank space, the purpose gdr which blank space will presently ap ear. 4

he cylindrical portion ofthe case is ex- ,tende'cl on one side at s forming an eccentric housi In each end of this eccentric housing is ormeda slot t, Fig. 5, through which extends a. shaft ,m having anfexternal knob handle and beari rgidl attach to said shaft. Each of these w eels occupies a position in the plane gear teeth l tare made For' quickly setting a series of toothed wheels V 'rate clamp of the teeth :v ofthe index4 ring, but is normally out of contact with the same. A yoke shaped frame 'v 1s provided with bearings 4which receive the shaft m.' This yoke shaped near themiddle attached to 1t av frame has pushbutton' 'n whose shank passes through an openi in the eccentric housing s and is normally eld 'up by a subja'cent sprin '0. The tension of this spring holds the-sha t m up in the elevated ,position in the slots t so thatv its wheels glare entirely out of gear with the teeth :c of, t e index rings, and therefore do not retard or obstruct the normal rotation of said index rings. If, howev er, the-push button fn. is depressed', the shaft m Vis projected toward the index rings, and its rigid toothed wheels 'y eng e the gear teeth :c of the index rings, and i t e milled handle knob on theend of the shaftm' be tur.ned,'it will be seen that the index rings are each turned by its corresponding adjusting wheel'y, so as-.to

restore the index rings to the zero position. Inasmuch, however, as the index rmgs'will occupy different positions, and .it is necessary to sto them at different points. the blank space s in the teeth :c are all arranged in a denite relation to the zero indication of the index ring, so that whenever the zero mark is brought opposite the window, the'adjusting wheel of that index ring will revolve freely in said blank space and turn said index ring no farther, wheels y will continue to turn their respecalso brought to the zero point, when the blank spaces will then be underv all the ad'usting wheels. l

` o cover 'and protect the -slots t, in the eccentric portions of the housin against the entrance of dust and dirt,fthe s aft 'm is provided with a vdust `cap p, as seen in Fig. 6.

The foregoing construction as heretofore outlined maybe readily converted into what may be known as a logometer or word counter, and ils designed to be used on any or all rnakes of typewriters,type setting machines, or other machines where it is necessary to count the words or lines, counting them automatically as'they may be written. counting them accurately and without a single extra stroke on the s ace bar or any other key of the machine, an without a nioments time -lost from the operation,', so that the speed of the operator is not in any degree interfered with. In the drawings, Figs. 7 and 8, we have shown our logometer as applied to the Oliver or Smith Premier typewriters but with very slight changes it may v be appliedlto any other make o machine. In F1 .-9 it is shown a pliedas an external ent to the mac ne, in which a sepaplate P fastens it to the machine.

attac In Fig. 8 it is shown incorporated in the body of the machine itself,

whose framework is while the other vadjusting 'tive index rings u ntil they each in turn4 are provided witha window through which the index-'ri sshowtheir markings, and in index rings to zero is extended out to one side of the '-machine. as shownat m, In all 'cases however, it is 'referably attached at thev righthand sideV o the machine.

Every user of the typewriter knows that between eve wordwntten the space ibar is operated, an lourlogometer is constructed so as to use theperatln of the'space bar for the operation offthe'l logometer, so that for every time the space bar is pressed downto space the words as they are written, the lo ometer registers 1. O f course it frequent y occurs'lthat the space bar is used to make longe spaces :than are used between simple wordsin'ordinary writing, 4but when this is desired, theiogometer is so constructed as to 'when its y use has I een practiced :an 'slightly accustomed tofit will not under any l b e instantaneously thrown' out of gea-r byl reasoiiof the character of the connection beftween thel (pacelbar and the logometer lproper, this being one so uickly 'and so eas that even circumstances'V afford any appreciable decrease in thespeedofltheoperator to separate theconnection between'theA space bar and the logometer.- 4This logometer or word counter.

is constructed on the same theory and principles as are set forth hereinbefore when used as a cyclometer,-and has substantially the same general appearance.' vWe refer, however, to'make the following slig t modiiica tions for actuating the index Instead of employing the" c'ams. 12 and 13, and the iifferer'itialv ears 4 and 5,4 as in Fig. 1, we simply' attac to the main shaft-B -see Fig.

3-an arm r, which armis extended over so as to engage the teeth of the first index' ring 'of the' series, and the movement is therebg transmitted from `the actuating shaft directly to the iirst index ring without the" differential 'ear, and which movement is transmitted rom the iir'stindex ring to the second index ring, and thence 'to the third, and so on, b thesystem of carrying shown in Fig. 1, or y any other system of carrying.

The character of the connection` between the space bar of the machine and the logometer proper, may be varied to aconsiderable extent, as the 4case demands, but for the present purposes, We illustrate the means shown in Fig. 7, for the reason that it is both accurate and adjustable. We attach a ratchet wheel A to one 'end of the actuating n shaft B, which ratchet wheel contains l() teeth andmovement istransmitted to this main ratchet wheel A by a de ressible plunger rod C, which passes throng i and is held in position by the cylinder D. Near the lower end of the rod C a fingler G passes through the same and enga es e teeth in the ratchet 'wheel A, being orcedin-the proper position to engage the teeth by the spring F. A' coil y ;spring E arranged in the cy inder is for the which the adJusting shaft for restoring the purpose ofreturning the rod C in upward direction after-each down stroke. A rod H telescopes into the rod C, being fastened thereto with a thumb screw O; The purpose of making this rod with this extensible section, is to re `ulate the same to the length of stroke of ifierent space bars, or the height of different space bars. There, is fastened on the space bar M of the' typewritera grooved guide P in theu per side of A' which is arranged a slide K tu rne( up slightly .V

at both ends,- which slide may be instantly' brought forward or pushed backward by a` movement ofthe iin er, and when'in forward position, will when t e space bar is o erated,

press the bent end`of the rod section I downward, thereby transmitting the movement through the plun er -rod C to the ratchet' wheel A. When t e' slide K is pushed backward, out of range ofrengagement with the bent end of rod H, in such position the -space bar operates without' r istering on the counter. A rigid baseer o setting projection R is formed on the'endof the casin of the logometer, which supports the cylin er D, and a suitable stop projection for limiting the downward movement of the plunger rod C is provided to prevent the ratchet wheel A from being turned too far and carrying theindex ring past the proper point. This will insure the index being turned exactly the same distance at each'stroke. The ratchet wheel A, rod C, and lower end of the cylinder D, willall be preferably inclosed in the main casi of the logometer, and will not be visible.

e claim:

1-. In a counter of the kinds described, the combination with actuating gears and a peripheral index ring, of a loosely swivelcd actuating toothed ring arranged inside of the index ring, and connected to the actuating gears, and means for coupling said loose toothed ring and the index ring rigidly together for .revolution in one direct-lon, andpermittin independent movement in the opposite cirection.

2. In a counter ofthe kinds described, the

combination with a peripheral index. ring having internal ratchet teeth, and an independently movable toothed rin(r loosely turning insideof the index ring andahavinga spring awl adaptedto engage the ratchet teeth oi) the index rin 3. In a counter oft 1e kinds described, the combination of a series of index rings, having teeth alon their sides', a setting shaft larranged para el to the axis of the index rings and bearing rigid adjusting wheels arranged in the plane ot the teeth of the index rings, a bail having bearings supporting said shaft, an inclosing casing having an eccentric'projection inclosing said bail and adhating Wheels, said eccentric casing being iorme withslots througlrwhich thesetting shaft passes, a push button attached `to the bail carryin said shaft, and arranged on the 'outside of t e casing, and aspring for withdrawing the shaft and the setting. wheels from the index rin s.

. `and bearing ri' a bail haYing bearin the shaftl and- 4. In a counter o the kinds described, the combination of a series of index rings having teeth alongtheir sides, a setting shaft arranged parallel to the axis of` the index rings gid adjusting wheels arranged in the plane o the teeth of the index rings,

supporting 'saidsha t, an inclo casing aving an eccentric projection inc osing said bail and adiustin wheels said eccentric casing being orme with siots through which the settingl shaft passes, a push button attached to t e bail carrying said shaft, and arranged on the outside of the casing, a sprin for withdrawing he setting w eels from the index rings, and a dust ca arranged onthe end of the setting shaft an covering the slot in the eccentric portion .of the casing.'

5.' The combination of -a connter, the space bar of a4 typewriter, and intervening mechanism for operatin the counter by the depression of the s ace ar, said mechamsm' consisting o f a toot the counter, arciprocating plunger, a spring lfor elev'atin 7. The combination of mechanism for operat` ed wheel on the shaft of the same, and a ta plet'projection attac ed to the spacebar o t e typer 6, The combination of 4a counter, the space b ar of a typewriter, and intervening mechanism for operati the counter by'the depression of the space ar, said means consisting -of a toothed wheel on -the counter shaft, a -reciprocating plunger engaging therewith, aspring for raising an adjustable extension for said plunger, and a tappet projection arranged on the space bar o thetype-writer.v j

a counter, the space bar of a typewriter, andintervening the counter .by the depressionl of the space ar, said means com sisting of a toothedA Wheelon the 'counter shaft, a reciprocating plunger 'engaging therewith, a spring for raising said plunger, an adjustable extension for said plunger, and a tapfpet projection arranged on lthe .space bar o beingV made adjustable into or out of engagement with the plunger4 bar.

V ROBERT W. VARDEMAN.

CLARENCE B. VARDEMAN.

Witnesses:

J. W. BARNHILL,

R. T. BRIGHTWELL.

said plunger,-

.the typewriter, said tappet projection 

